Tamper-proof cap for bottles

ABSTRACT

A tamper-proof cap for bottles comprising a cylindrical single piece injected in plastic material, including a cylindrical vertical base and a circular sealing belt connected to the cylindrical vertical base lower end, including a plurality of equidistantly spaced articulated blades adjacent to the lower presenting at least one anti-attrition flange radially inwards projected and a base, the flanges enabling a special effect in each blade during the process of application of the caps by high-speed machines. Specifically, the coupling of the cap occurs with low attrition because the contact area between the blades and the neck or collar of the neck is limited only to the flange. The cap is also designed to prevent the simultaneous unscrewing of the cap and of the sealing means, preventing the breakable elements from deforming instead of disrupting.

This is a Continuation-in-part of the application Ser. No. 10/121,141filed Apr. 11, 2002.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to tamper-proof caps for bottles. Moreparticularly, this invention includes technical and functionalimprovements especially developed to reduce the friction between the capand a bottle when screwing the cap to the neck and to optimize theresistant to tamper of caps with a sealing device attached to it. Thepresent invention is to be used in various types of disposable orrecyclable bottles made of glass, plastic or metal, for beverages, foodproducts or not, including drugs and similar products.

2. Description of the Prior Art

As it is known, there are various types of caps with sealing devicesattached to the lower end of the base. Most common sealing devices arebelts, hoops or rings consisting in a continuation of the cylindricalbase of the body of the cap, attached thereto only by “bridges” or smallbreakable “linkages” or bonds, with various articulated or hingedtrapezoidal blades in the internal side. Each blade includes the largestside interconnected to the sealing device on a hinged way, while thesmallest side is radially oriented inward, with a certain inclinationupward. These blades, in addition to being positioned near the lower endof the sealing device, are also distributed equidistantly. The bladesfunction as the main locking component between the cap and thebottleneck. In other words, when screwing the cap to the neck, theblades articulate upwards to a substantial vertical position. However,this occurs only when the blades are passing through a circular lockingcollar existent in the neck of the bottle and, after passing throughsaid circular collar, the blades tend to return to a horizontalposition. Therefore, each blade is inclined inward sufficiently to touchthe wall of the neck and under the circular collar. This demonstratesthe irreversible lock between the cap and the bottle because when thecap is unscrewed, the free sides of the blades are sustained under saidcollar. Further, upon the continuity of the unscrewing process, the beltof the base is separated, which means that the sealing device isruptured in the linkages. Accordingly, the cap may be totally unscrewed,as well as the sealing device, which demonstrates the first opening ofthe cap.

In U.S. Pat. No. 4,402,418, Ostrowsky et al. breakable bridges orelements between the closure body and the locking band are molded duringthe injection process and not made (constructed) through a cuttingdevice through the wall of the closure. These type of bridges are ofsmall flexibility and prone to break as the closure is applied over thelocking ring and they snap bellow the said locking collar.

In U.S. Pat. No. 5,950,850 Takamatsu et al teaches a closure cooperatingwith a determined sealing device or container, this device or containerbeing a “neck finish” that has a means for promoting the severing orbreaking of the bridges.

Caps manufactured according to the current technique have sufficientdetails for the correct closing of the bottle, which makes it resistantto tamper or tamper-proof. However, there is an inconvenience definedherein as “placement attrition.” In other words, during the bottlingprocess, or more specifically during the closing or sealing processwhere the caps are screwed to the neck of the bottle, it was possible toverify that the placement of the conventional cap by high-speed machinesresulted in bottling failures or a “considerable attrition.” As suchplacement attrition occurs during the bottling process, specialcorrective measures including additional mechanical components are oftenrequired to alleviate such attrition.

When applying a conventional cap or the caps known in the prior art,such cap shall be screwed until the end, in order that its blades may belocked under the collar. Therefore, the surface of each blade slides onthe corresponding parts of the bottle, which demonstrates an attritioncoefficient substantially high in each blade.

Therefore a cap with a new geometrical feature in order to reducefriction between the cap and the bottle during the process ofapplication of the caps by high-speed machines with an optimum lockingeffect at the same time was necessary.

Also, a cap designed to prevent the simultaneous unscrewing of the capand of the sealing means, preventing the breakable elements fromdeforming instead of disrupting was desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of this invention is a constructive feature especiallydeveloped in order to drastically reduce the attrition coefficient.Therefore, the present invention seeks to provide a tamper-proof cap forbottles comprising: a cylindrical single piece injected in plasticmaterial, including a cylindrical vertical base, having a lower externaleven surface and an upper external anti-sliding surface, and an internalsurface with an internal adequate thread, interrupted by sections ornot; a superior end completely closed by a circular wall with a roundshape edge; a respective sealing layer placed against the circular walland a lower end presenting an increasing internal diameter, which isdesigned extending from the diameter of the internal surface; and acircular sealing belt connected to the cylindrical vertical base lowerend. The sealing belt includes: a wall, preferably presenting anoutwards definite increase on the thickness; an internal surface; anexternal surface; an upper end; a lower end; a circular cut line abovesaid thickening, said cut line interrupted by breakable elements; and aplurality of articulated blades adjacent to the lower end, said bladesequidistantly spaced, configured with a dimensional detail operating asa locking component between the cap and the bottle, the articulatedblades presenting at least one anti-attrition flange radially inwardsprojected and a base.

Each one of the blades has its lower side (or the side towards the wallof the neck) with at least one anti-attrition flange developed from itsarticulated base to the free edge. If only one anti-attrition flange ispresent, the flange is positioned medianly attached, preferably along acentral axis. If more than one anti-attrition flange is present, thenthe flanges are equidistantly placed on the blade along a central axis.With this detail, a special effect is produced in each blade during theprocess of application of the caps by high-speed machines. Specifically,the coupling of the cap occurs with low attrition because the contactarea between the blades and the neck or collar of the neck is limitedonly to the flange or flanges. Accordingly, during the bottling processthe number of bottling failures will be reduced and the need ofadditional special corrective measures will be eliminated or reduced.

The flange has been developed in order to reduce friction between thecap and the bottle. With the introduction of the flange the blades arebetter structured and the flange works as a reinforcing web. Even if theblade has a reduced thickness, the locking effect is maintained with anoptimum efficiency.

The base has been developed having a lower external even surface and anupper external anti-sliding surface including grooves to make it moredifficult the simultaneous unscrewing of the base and of the sealingbelt, preventing the breakable elements from deforming instead ofdisrupting or breaking.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 represents a side view of the cap, with its external details.

FIG. 2 demonstrates another side view in cross section cut, highlightingits internal details.

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the cap from an upper angle.

FIG. 4 consists in a different perspective view of the cap from a lowerangle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of this invention and pursuant to these illustrations andits details, more particularly FIGS. 1 to 4, the present inventionincludes a cylindrical single piece injected in plastic material.defined by a first part composed by a cylindrical vertical base (skirt)(1), with a lower external even surface (15) and an upper externalanti-sliding surface (2) including grooves, and an internal surface (16)with internal adequate thread (3) interrupted by sections (4),appropriate for the escape of pressure when the bottle to be closed withthe cap contains any carbonated liquid. The lower end of the base (1)has an increasing internal diameter, which is designed extending fromthe diameter of the internal surface (16). One of the benefits of thepresence of this skirt is its adjacent placement over the supportingcollar of plastic PET bottles, once the cap is properly applied. Thisadjacent placement leaves no room for one to tamper the closure, holdingthe breakable element, with the tip of the fingers, upwardly against thebody of the closure as one tries to unscrew the cap from the bottleneck.

The superior end of the cylindrical single piece is completely closed bya circular wall (6) with a round-shape edge (5), and a respectiveinternal sealing layer (7) placed against the circular wall. The lowerend of the base (1) has a circular extension with an internal and anexternal surface, forming a sealing belt (8) presenting a uniqueoutwards slight increase on the its wall thickness (9), and a circularcut line (10) right above the increased thickness (9), defining theseparation point between the sealing belt (8) and the cylindrical base(1). However, the cylindrical base and the sealing belt are maintainedinterconnected through breakable elements (11). The outwards increase onthe sealing belt wall thickness allows for a sturdier locking band, thatwill not deform, and uncouple the locking blades, from under the lockingcollar of the bottle neck

The sealing belt (8) presents, in the internal surface, adjacent to itslower end, a plurality of articulated blades (12), projected radiallyinwards. The blades are equidistantly spaced, and each one of thempresents a base configured with a dimensional detail (13) cooperatingfor an upwards articulation, therefore, operating as locking componentsbetween the cap and the bottle. In other words, when screwing the cap tothe neck, the blades articulate upwards to an almost vertical position.However, this articulation occurs only while the blades are passingthrough a sealing neck or circular collar existent in the neck of thebottle. After passing through the circular collar, the blades tend toreturn to the horizontal position, which implies that each blade isinclined inwards, and leaned on the wall of the bottleneck, while itsfree end remains attached under the bottleneck's collar, characterizingan irreversible locking between the cap and the bottle. When unscrewingthe cap, the sealing belt (8) and the base (1) will separate, as thesetwo pieces are interconnected through the breakable elements (11). Thebreakable points are disrupted, or ruptured, only when the cap isunscrewed, retaining the sealing belt (8) below the collar of the neck,while the cylindrical base (1) or cap is removed, characterizing thefirst opening of the bottle.

In the preferred embodiment of this invention, each blade (12) presentsat least one anti-attrition flange (14) in its lower part, which isleaned on the wall of the bottleneck, provided that each flange (14) isdeveloped medianly (attached along a central axis), extending from thebase of the blade to its distal end.

The anti-attrition flanges (14) presents a cross section of anygeometric shape, preferably rectangular or semi-circular, as seen inFIG. 2.

Alternatively, each blade (12) may present two or more flanges (14),depending on its width. In this case, each flange (14) is notnecessarily developed medianly, but each flange should be distributedequidistantly along a central axis.

The flange (14) is an important detail in each blade, as during theapplication of the cap using high-speed machines, the coupling of thecap occurs with reduced attrition, as the contact area between the bladeand the bottleneck or the edge of the collar of the bottleneck islimited only to the flange (14).

On the other hand, with the introduction of the flange, the blade wasstrengthened, or reinforced, as the flange serves to function asreinforcement. Therefore, even if said blade has a reduced thickness,its locking effect is efficiently maintained.

On the second aspect of this invention, the cylindrical piece with avertical base (1), with a lower external even surface (15) and an upperexternal anti-sliding surface (2) including grooves are designed in sucha way that the length of said skirt has an even surface corresponding tofrom 40% to 57% of the total length of the cap. Such proportion makes itmore difficult the simultaneous unscrewing of the base (1) and of thesealing belt (8), preventing the breakable elements from deforminginstead of disrupting or breaking. In other words, when holding the cap,one's fingers slide in the even surface but not in the grooves designedin the anti-sliding surface.

It should be understood that the preferred embodiments mentioned hereare merely illustrative of the present invention. Numerous variations indesign and use of the present invention may be contemplated in view ofthe following claims without straying from the intended scope and fieldof the invention herein disclosed.

1. A tamper-proof cap for bottles, said cap comprising: a cylindricalsingle piece injected in plastic material, including: a cylindricalvertical base, including a lower external even surface, an upperexternal anti-sliding surface and an internal surface with an internaladequate thread, a superior end completely closed by a circular wallwith a round shape edge, a respective sealing layer placed against thecircular wall and a lower end presenting an increasing internaldiameter, which is designed extending from the diameter of the internalsurface; and a circular sealing belt connected to the cylindricalvertical base lower end, including: a wall, an internal surface; anexternal surface; an upper end; a lower end; a circular cut line abovesaid thickening, said cut line interrupted by breakable elements; and aplurality of articulated blades adjacent to the lower end, said bladesequidistantly spaced, configured with a dimensional detail operating asa locking component between the cap and the bottle; wherein thearticulated blades present at least one anti-attrition flange radiallyinwards projected.
 2. The tamper-proof cap for bottles according toclaim 1, wherein the articulated blades present two or more flanges,each flange distributed equidistantly along a central axis.
 3. Thetamper-proof cap for bottles according to claim 1, wherein the internaladequate thread is interrupted by sections.
 4. The tamper-proof cap forbottles according to claim 1, wherein the sealing belt presents adefinite outwards increase on the its wall thickness.
 5. Thetamper-proof cap for bottles according to claim 1, wherein theanti-sliding surface presents grooves.